Faculty Profile: Brent C. Sleasman

Biography

I am originally from Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania and my family currently lives in Millcreek Township.  Prior to coming to Gannon University in 2008, I taught at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.  In addition to my teaching experience, I have served as a youth pastor, church planter, and pastor of a small congregation in Beaver County, PA.

Courses Taught

Undergraduate Courses (taught at Gannon University)

• Introduction to Speech (SPCH 101)
• Technical Communication (SPCH 110)
• Public Speaking (SPCH 111)
• Philosophy of Communication (SPCH 225)
• Interpersonal Communication (SPCH 235)
• Persuasion (SPCH 314)
• Argumentation & Debate (SPCH 322)
• Sociolinguistics (GENG 504)

From January 14 - 25, 2013, I taught a Homiletics course at Emmaus Biblical Seminary in Cap Haitien, Haiti, and plan to return again in January 2014.

Educational History

Duquesne University, Ph.D. in Rhetoric, 2007

Winebrenner Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity, 1999

University of Findlay, Bachelor of Arts in Speech, 1996

Professional Experience

Assistant Professor, Gannon University, 2008 - 2013

Associate Professor, Gannon University, 2013 - present

Basic Course Director, Gannon University, 2009 - present

Professional Societies

Pennsylvania Communication Association: 2004 - present

Eastern Communication Association: 2004 - present

National Communication Association: 2003 - 2008, 2013 - present

Publications

Book:

Albert Camus's Philosophy of Communication: Making Sense in an Age of Absurdity. Amherst, NY: Camubria Press, 2011.

Book Chapter:

"Reading Camus in an Age of Absurdity: Toward a Constructive Reading of The Stranger." Forthcoming, 2013.

"Albert Camus and the Metaphor of Absurdity."  Critical Insights: Albert Camus. Ed. Steven G. Kellman. Los Angeles: Salem Press, 2012. 48–66

Journal Articles:

“Individual Autonomy.” The SAGE Encyclopedia of Identity.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2010. 393-394. 

“Individuation and Identity.” The SAGE Encyclopedia of Identity.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2010.  394-396. 

“The Philosophy of Communication as the Absurd: Albert Camus and the Ethics of Everyday.” Albert Camus Society Journal.  2009. 1, 55-71. 

Leeanne M. Bell & B.C. Sleasman.  “Spotlight on Pedagogy: Teaching Communication Ethics.”  Communication Annual. 2006. 61, 33-45.

Scholarship/Research

I currently have a paper under review at an academic journal that expands upon information literacy within a basic public speaking course.  I am also developing a variety of projects including an edited volume exploring the intersection of the work of Albert Camus and the study of philosophy of communication.  I am in the early stages of researching the distinction between orality and literacy and its wider relationship to the study of human communication.

I regularly present my ongoing research at the annual conferences of the Eastern Communication Association and Pennsylvania Communication Association as well as the biennial National Communication Ethics conference.

My research and service are currently intersecting in a conference to be hosted at Gannon University with the theme "Albert Camus & Philosophy of Communication: Making Sense in an Age of Absurdity" which will take place from October 17-18, 2013.  The conference webpage is www.gannon.edu/philcomm and will be updated in coming months with more information.  Please direct any questions to me at sleasman001@gannon.edu.  This conference will serve as the pre-conference of the annual convention of the Pennsylvania Communication Association, also hosted by Gannon University from October 18-19, 2013 (more information is available at www.duq.edu/pca).

Service

To Gannon University:

• Liberal Studies Committee, 2009 - present
• Compliance Committee, 2011 - present
• Academic Affairs Committee (College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences), 2012 - present
• Middle States Self-Study Committee, 2011 - 2012
• Student Success Committee, 2010 - 2013
• Library Committee, 2009 - 2012

To Profession:

• Vice-President, Pennsylvania Communication Association, 2011 - present
• Member at Large, Pennsylvania Communication Association, 2009 - 2011
• Program Planner, Rhetoric & Public Address Interest Group, Eastern Communication Association, 2013
• Program Planner, Philosophy of Communication Interest Group, Eastern Communication Association, 2011

To Community:

• Secretary, PTA, Vernondale Elementary School (Millcreek Township School District), 2012 - present 
• "Living in an Age of Absurdity: Albert Camus's Philosophy of Communication"  Presentation to the Jefferson Educational Society, May 30, 2012
• "Orphan Care & Adoption: A Human Sign of a Spiritual Reality."  Presentation to the annual meeting of the Allegheny Region, Churches of God, General Conferece, May 11, 2012
• "Orphan Care & Adoption: A Human Sign of a Spiritual Reality."  Church Advocate.  Findlay, OH.  2012, 177: 1, 8 - 9.  Click here to read article.